rss
Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:242-245 doi:10.1136/ard.2008.095596
  • Clinical and epidemiological research

Associations of obesity with modifiable risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

  1. A Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou1,2,3,
  2. G S Metsios1,2,3,
  3. V F Panoulas3,
  4. K M J Douglas3,
  5. A M Nevill1,2,
  6. A Z Jamurtas4,5,
  7. M Kita3,
  8. Y Koutedakis1,4,5,
  9. G D Kitas2,3,6
  1. 1
    School of Sport, Performing Arts & Leisure, Wolverhampton University, Walsall, UK
  2. 2
    Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
  3. 3
    Department of Rheumatology, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, Russell’s Hall Hospital, Dudley, UK
  4. 4
    Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
  5. 5
    Institute of Human Performance & Rehabilitation, Trikala, Greece
  6. 6
    ARC Epidemiology Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
  1. Antonios Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou, Department of Rheumatology, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 2HQ, UK; as{at}wlv.ac.uk
  • Accepted 26 July 2008
  • Published Online First 3 August 2008

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the association of body mass index (BMI) with modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: BMI, disease activity, selected CVD risk factors and CVD medication were assessed in 378 (276 women) patients with RA. Patients exceeding accepted thresholds in ≥3 CVD risk factors were classified as having the metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Results: BMI independently associated with hypertension (OR = 1.28 (95% CI = 1.22 to 1.34); p = 0.001), high-density lipoprotein (OR = 1.10 (95% CI = 1.06 to 1.15); p = 0.025), insulin resistance (OR = 1.13 (95% CI = 1.08 to 1.18); p = 0.000) and MetS (OR = 1.15 (95% CI = 1.08 to 1.21); p = 0.000). In multivariable analyses, BMI had the strongest associations with CVD risk factors (F1–354 = 8.663, p = 0.000), and this was followed by lipid-lowering treatment (F1–354 = 7.651, p = 0.000), age (F1–354 = 7.541, p = 0.000), antihypertensive treatment (F1–354 = 4.997, p = 0.000) and gender (F1–354 = 4.707, p = 0.000). Prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.004), insulin resistance (p = 0.005) and MetS (p = 0.000) was significantly different between patients with RA who were normal, overweight and obese, and BMI differed significantly according to the number of risk factors present (p = 0.000).

Conclusions: Increasing BMI associates with increased CVD risk independently of many confounders. RA-specific BMI cut-off points better identify patients with RA at increased CVD risk. Weight-loss regimens should be developed and applied in order to reduce CVD in patients with RA.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. All versions of this article:
    1. ard.2008.095596v1
    2. 68/2/242 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.